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Advocates of the law say it will give a second chance to low-level offenders or drug users who recognize their mistakes and want to put the past behind them. And that often begins with having a job.

“Employment is a cornerstone of reentry,” said Akil Roper, chief counsel for reentry at Legal Services of New Jersey, an organization that helps low-income residents clear their records. “And without that, we tend to see folks going back to prison.”